JOB SUMMARY

The Refuge Information Technician will act as a liaison between the Refuge and one or more villages throughout the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region and will manage and facilitate communication and collaboration between the Refuge and these Alaska Native stakeholders. Provides information on Service programs; state and federal laws and regulations associated with subsistence taking and use of resources; and state and federal laws on sport and commercial fishing and sport hunting. Obtains information on subsistence and sport harvest of fish and game. Arranges field logistics, coordinates access to Native lands, and explains the purpose and scope of biological projects to residents of villages on or near refuse or other public lands. Guides others or travels along by foot, snow machines, or boat to field camps and remote work sites in order to provide logistics or perform biological work. This is a temporary (approximately one year), part-time and intermittent position. This position will be located in the Yukon Kuskokwim Region, preferably Bethel, Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay, Emmonak, St. Mary's, Pilot Station, Mountain Village, Kotlik, Marshall, Russian Mission, Nightmute, Tununak, Toksook Bay, or Mekoryuk Alaska.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Meet with Alaska Native residents and tribal leaders to learn about and understand their concerns, questions, and positions with respect to Refuge programs; community values and interests; traditional subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources; and historic and current information about wildlife populations and harvest methods. The RIT will then communicate these concerns, questions, interests, traditional uses, and historical perspectives to the Refuge Manager to enable the Refuge to calibrate its cooperative management programs in acknowledgment of this information.

• Plan and facilitate meetings between Alaska Native residents and Refuge officials and may coordinate logistics in support of biological projects on the Refuge. These services are critical to advance the interests of all parties in successful collaboration and cooperative resource management. 

• Communicates with Refuge officials about traditional Alaska Native uses of Refuge lands and stakeholder perspectives on Refuge management programs, research, regulatory actions, Refuge permitting and policies, and other issues that impact Alaska Native stakeholders. The RIT will also communicate Refuge program ideas, concepts, concerns, and plans to Calista and other Alaska Native stakeholders who may be affected by Refuge actions. 

• Plans, develop, and implement programs and processes to ensure that important information is collected and shared between the Refuge and Alaska Native stakeholders living within and in proximity to the Refuge’s boundaries. The RIT will also optimize the use of existing communication structures, including public meetings, educational programs in rural communities and schools, and personal connections, to achieve these goals.

• Explains natural resource management laws, regulations, plans, and agreements and the goals of these laws, regulations, plans, and agreements to Alaska Native stakeholders who live on or in proximity to or use Refuge lands. The RIT understands and communicates the effects of laws and agreements of particular significance to Calista shareholders and within the Calista region, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Alaska Native Migratory Bird Co-Management Council (AMBCC), the Alaska National Interest in Land Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the Regional Advisory Councils established by ANILCA for rural subsistence uses, and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).

• Attend important village meetings and tribal council meetings.

• Attend regular meetings with the Refuge Manager and staff and provide written and oral reports on Alaska Native stakeholder concerns or other topics of concern and attention, and to receive briefings from the Refuge Manager about Refuge concerns and program updates.

• Assist in communication and scheduling for any Government-to-Government consultations between the Refuge, Tribes, and village corporations.

• Attend and participate in Refuge staff meeting. This will include attending and presenting the previous year’s activities and accomplishments.

• Attend Rural Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings convened to recommend subsistence hunting and fishing policies and regulations to the Federal Subsistence Board under ANILCA.

• Attend AMBCC meetings during which Alaska Natives and FWS staff discuss co-management relationship and develop regulations for subsistence uses of migratory birds.

• Develop outreach materials during federal and state hunting and fishing seasons to educate all stakeholders about regulatory requirements, land permits, and cultural considerations when using Refuge land and resources.

• Participate in RIT meetings and workshops.

• Assist the Refuge in integrating more Yupik-specific cultural and linguistic content into Refuge education, outreach, and cultural interpretation.

• Work with state and federal agencies, Native and non-Native organizations to advocate for policies, laws, regulations, programs, and services that will benefit Calista Shareholders and lands, and advance collaboration with the Refuge.

• Assist with interviewing and recommending selection of subsistence waterfowl surveyors, summer hires from the villages, and providers of locally procured services.

• Arrange field logistics, coordinate Refuge access to Alaska Native lands, and explain the purpose and scope of Refuge projects to Alaska Natives residing on or near the Refuge.

• Arrange, conduct, and participate in outdoor or resource-related activities for youth and community events for all ages such as educational or cultural camps, steel shot clinics, hunter safety courses, Alaska migratory bird calendar contest, GPS training, nature photography, survival skills, and recycling and clean-up efforts.

• Work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of and experience with traditional subsistence and other cultural practices specific to the Alaska Native communities of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region.

• Understanding and recognition of differences between Alaska Native and Western management practices and cultures.

• Practical knowledge of traditional Yupik subsistence harvest practices.

• Practical knowledge of Western and Alaska Native laws, culture, and customs to compare and contract those customs in communicating concepts to Alaska Native residents and Refuge employees.

• Working knowledge of land ownership patterns and Federal and state regulations associated with commercial, sport, and subsistence hunting and fishing.

• Experience and skill with oral communications with individuals and groups to clearly and concisely present information on resource management philosophies.

• Experience and skill in facilitating and encouraging the flow of ideas and information to make both sides aware of opinions, perceptions, and knowledge of wide range of Alaska Native community members.

• Experience and skill with cross-cultural communications on complex concepts such as resource management methods and conservation philosophies.

• Ability to develop and maintain rural community networks and manage complex projects.

• Strong familiarity of the State of Alaska environmental community.

• Ability to provide leadership, counsel, and motivation to foster a team environment.

• Ability to facilitate meetings, outreach and communication with project teams, planners and leaders.

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to have clear communication and to establish strong relationships with coworkers, staff, clients, and key stakeholders.

• Knowledge of the philosophies, principals, practices and techniques of planning, project management, regulatory compliance, and managing client relationships.

• Knowledge and understanding of stakeholder tools and techniques.

• Knowledge of environmental issues relating to one or more of the following: transportation, air quality and noise, water quality and resources, land use planning, energy and environmental management.

• Skill in understanding and utilizing scientific, demographic, environmental, and economic data.

• Ability to summarize technical information relevant to environmental issues.

  • Ability to participate in the development and presentation of environmental projects.

  • Ability to prepare clear, concise, and competent correspondence, reports, promotional, and educational materials.

  • Ability to be detail oriented, organized, and proactively follow-up as needed.

  • Ability to develop and lead presentations and actively facilitate initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, who may have conflicting views.

• Willingness to work a flexible schedule and travel frequently.

• Ability to adapt to changes in tasks in the work environment; manage competing demands and change approach to best fit the situation.  Must be able to deal with frequent delays, and unexpected tasks as assigned.

• Ability to speak Yupik.

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe and efficient manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent required, associate degree or bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field preferred.  Experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.

• Two to Four years or related experience; combination of living in a remote village and work experience will be considered.

• Practical knowledge of Yupik customs, culture, way of life, and subsistence to obtain the trust and acceptance of Alaska Native residents.

• Fluent in Yupik Language

• Must be able to travel to remote areas using various transportation methods such as plane, boat, or ATVs when needed.

• Must have a valid State of Alaska driver's license.

• Ability to pass a drug, background, and driving record screening

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work and travel to remote areas as needed.

PREFERENCE STATEMENT
Preference will be given to Calista shareholders and their descendants and to spouses of Calista shareholders, and to shareholders of other corporations created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, in accordance with Title 43 U.S. Code 1626(g).

EEO STATEMENT
Additionally, it is our policy to select, place, train and promote the most qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude and experience, so as to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees in compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and without regard to non-work related factors such as race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status. When applicable, our policy of non-discrimination applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, placement, layoff, compensation, termination, reduction in force and benefits.
 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
It is Calista and Subsidiaries' business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
 
The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.
 
This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.